The doors opened and released Carla and Peter from the four walls of the lift. Carla got out first and waited awkwardly for Peter.
"It's this way" He pointed at the doors which led to the ward that Deirdre had been placed on. Carla followed him as he opened the doors, which lead on to the ward. He waited for her to walk first like a gentleman. He noticed that Carla gave him a little smile as she walked past him, it made him feel a little less guilty for kissing her and a little more at ease.
They walked side by side along the hospital ward, until they got to a desk, Peter cleared his throat as a nurse looked up and said
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah, I'm looking for Deirdre Barlow" Peter replied, The nurse frowned at him and said
"She's in room seven but our visiting hours ended about ten minutes ago" Peter looked at his watch and it was ten past eight at night. He couldn't believe that after the journey from hell and after what had happened in the lift, that this woman was telling him that it was all for nothing and that he couldn't see Deirdre after all.
"Look we've come all this way, can't you just let us go in anyway" He started, he knew he was getting himself in rather a state but he couldn't seem to stop the tears that were forming behind his eyes. "Please" he added but the nurse shook her head at him with absolutely no sympathy.
"I'm afraid not" The nurse said in that very generic tone of voice that some nurses have, the one where they think it sounds like they care but they actually sound like they couldn't give a toss about what was going on around them.
"There's no one around, I mean me Dad and Sister must still be in there" Peter said pleadingly but the woman on the desk shook her head again. Carla could never bare to see Peter cry and tonight was no exception, as he tried to secretly wipe away a stray tear, She swallowed back her own ones said
"Please, We'll only pop our heads round the door n say hello, we just want to let Deirdre know we're here for her." Carla said in her best polite tone of voice, the nurse at the desk still frowned and sighed at them as if she was just fed up.
"I'm sorry but as I said the visiting hours have ended, you can come back tomorrow"
"And what if she's not bloody ere tomorrow? What then eh?" Peter snapped slamming his hand down onto the desk frustratedly, It was all too much for him to bear, He couldn't see clearly now, his eyes were welling with tears.
"Peter… calm down." Carla said pulling him away from the nurse, who looked rather startled by Peter's outburst
"Don't tell me to calm down, Carla" He said angrily, he wasn't angry at her just the situation, he also didn't want Carla's touch because he knew that with each touch, there came a time for her to let go and he never wanted Carla to let go of him again. "She's being unreasonable, I mean after we came all this way…" he backed away from Carla slightly not wanting her to get too close.
"Peter it's Weatherfield General, it's hardly thousands of miles" Carla sighed although she knew what he meant, It wasn't so much the actual journey to the hospital that bothered him, it was the journey they had taken themselves, as two ex lovers thrown back together by heartbreak.
"Carla that's not the point, we sat in that awful traffic and then..." He stopped talking, not wanting to bring up what happened in the lift.
"Peter's she's just doing her job." Carla said taking his hand and making him tremble. Peter looked down at the delicate fingers that were entwined with his.
The hunger he had for Carla was still consuming him, even though he knew that he shouldn't be having these thoughts about her and even though his main priority should have been Deirdre. He thought about all the time he had been wasting talking to Carla at the pub and how he should have made it to the hospital sooner. Peter then felt incredibly selfish and completely hopeless.
He suddenly started crying, tears running down his face uncontrollably.
Carla stared at him in distress and then she looked at the woman at the desk pleadingly
"Please" Carla begged "We're just scared that if we wait..." She couldn't finish her sentence as Peter continued to break down in front of her. He had his head in his hands and was blatantly trying to cover his face so that his tears weren't so obvious to the people around them.
The sight of Peter Barlow crying was harrowing enough to make even the strictest nurse weaken, She glanced around and said
"Okay, Given the circumstances. I'll let you both in…" Peter stared at the nurse tearfully, as if she might change her mind at any minute.
"If anyone asks just say that you just slipped past" said the nurse.
"Thank you" Carla said and she quickly took hold of Peter's hand again so that they could walk on to room seven. Peter wiped at his cheeks so that he didn't look like such a state. He knocked on the door to number seven gingerly and waited for some sort of response.
"Come in" he heard his Dad's voice say softly, Peter went into the hospital room followed by a nervous Carla, to find a fragile looking Deirdre lying in a hospital bed. She looked pale and rather thin but she didn't look as ill as both Carla and Peter had been expecting.
"Hello" Peter said apprehensively, Ken was sat on an arm chair next to the bed and Tracy was sat on one of those generic plastic hospital chairs at the end of the bed. Ken looked exhausted, Tracy's eyes were red and they both looked rather surprised to see Carla. Deirdre on the other hand looked delighted, her face actually lit up when she saw them both.
"Peter and Carla... what a surprise." She said happily.
"Hiya Deirdre" Carla said tenderly as Peter went straight over to Deirdre and gave her a quick kiss.
"How on earth did you manage to get past that bitch on the front desk?" Tracy asked because her and Ken had had a few run ins with her over the past few days, Ken tutted at Tracy
"Tracy" he warned as Carla went over to Deirdre and also gave her a little kiss on the cheek. Being close up, Carla could see that Deirdre looked like she had aged a hell of a lot since the last time Carla had seen her, it made Carla feel incredibly guilty about not making more of an effort with her.
"Never mind that" Peter said "How you feeling then Deirdre?" He asked although it was a stupid question because Deirdre looked terribly delicate there in her bed. She still smiled bravely at Peter though and said quietly
"I've been better" it was almost as if talking too loud or too fast was causing Deirdre some pain but she put a brave face on and said "It's so good to see you Peter, You look well" Peter smiled modestly at Deirdre
"It's good to see you too" he said, Deirdre then looked at Carla who was stood next to Peter, She looked at how their hands were almost touching and how Carla seemed to be leaning on Peter a little.
"Carla you look nice n tanned, ave you been on holiday?" Deirdre asked looking Carla up and down,
"Sort of, Me and Michelle fancied a quick getaway so we booked a last minute deal to Greece" Carla nodded "We only went for four days but it were lovely" Peter tried his very best not to look too tickled that it had turned out Carla hadn't been away with Nick after all.
Ken who had also been watching Carla closely since she had arrived, eventually got up out of his chair
"Carla... can I speak with you outside for a moment?" He asked. Carla nodded at him and followed him out of the room. He closed the door and turned to Carla with an ashamed expression on his face "I'm so sorry" He said but she shook her head at him.
"Ken, don't even think about it, this is not about me." Carla hated that with everything going on, Ken was obviously still worrying about how she felt.
"I just didn't want to burden you with this, you're just so happy at the moment and then I heard you were going on holiday with Michelle, I just didn't want to ruin it for you." He explained
"Ken, honestly this is no burden" She said softly "When Peter told me, all I wanted to do was come ere to see you n Deirdre. I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of upset that you hadn't told me but I get it… I'm ere now and I won't hear another word about it okay?"
"Well thank you very much for being here" Ken said appreciatively "I know that Deirdre misses having you around like mad…we all do"
"I miss you all too" Carla said sadly.
She definitely preferred the Barlows over the Platts any day of the week.
Nick's mother Gail, hated Carla but that was no surprise because Gail hated anyone that Nick went out with. Nick's Grandmother Audrey was rather indifferent and was polite enough but Carla never really felt like she was liked. Carla clashed a lot with Nick's sister Sarah and as for Bethany, Sarah's daughter, Whilst Carla thought she was rather funny she definitely felt like Bethany needed a swift kick up the backside.
Funnily enough the only member of Nick's family that Carla really got along with was his little brother David. He was hardly someone Carla thought she would bond with but David had a wicked sense of humour and he was always terribly honest about things, which was a quality that Carla really admired in a person.
"How's Deirdre then?" Carla asked because whilst Deirdre was obviously terribly ill, she definitely wasn't as bad as Carla had prepared herself for.
"Well it was touch and go earlier which is why I messaged Peter but she's seemed to have perked up considerably over the past hour or so" Ken said with relief "They definitely prepared us for the worst"
"I spose they ave to really" Carla said "but I'm so glad to hear she is doing better, I was distraught when I heard so I can't even begin to imagine how you must have felt" Ken nodded
"Yeah it's been truly awful but as I said Deirdre's perked up now so I'm sure she'll be fine." Carla knew that Ken was being brave and that he was still very worried about his wife but he quickly changed the subject onto his son "So... How's it been? With Peter?" he asked
"Torture if I'm honest" Carla admitted thinking about their stolen kiss in the lift. Ken nodded as if he understood but Carla knew he didn't really get world had been turned upside down in a matter of hours and as all these buried feelings came rushing back, Carla felt as if she was powerless to stop them taking over.
Meanwhile back inside room number seven, Peter was stood next to Tracy who turned to look at him with an eyebrow raised
"So... How did you end up coming ere with Carla?" She asked trying to act as if they were at home having a normal conversation and not as if she was sitting next to her Mum's hospital bed.
"I saw her in the pub" he began "It's a long story but she found out about Deirdre being in ere and insisted on coming with me" Peter sighed leaning against the wall.
"Was she with Nick?" Tracy asked rather cautiously, wondering if Peter knew about him yet or not. Peter nodded
"Yes she was and no I don't want to talk about it"
"I wouldn't be to worried if I were you" Tracy began "It won't last much longer, not after the baby's born" Peter looked at her, now confused
"Baby?" he asked, Tracy's face lit up, obviously taking joy from the fact that she could spread some gossip, even if it was only to her brother.
"Oh wait till you hear this, He only went and got a mate of Liz McDonald's up the duff" Tracy scoffed Deirdre shook her head weakly at her daughter.
"Tracy would you stop gossiping" She said quietly as Peter took in what he had just been told.
"Oh Mam I'm only telling Peter, He deserves to know" Tracy said then she turned back to Peter "Carla may be fine about it all now but once that baby is born, She'll wish she ended it months ago" She sniffed and lowered her voice as Carla and Ken both came back into the room. Ken went and sat back in the armchair next to Deirdre and began talking to her about something he'd read in the paper earlier on, Tracy rolled her eyes but listened anyway because she was thankful that after the evening they had had, At least Deirdre was able to sit up and listen.
Carla was stood next to Peter, they both had their arms folded and refused to look at each other. Neither one of them were talking to each other yet it seemed as if they were still managing to have a conversation.
Carla watched Ken as he held on to Deirdre's hand affectionately. He was talking to her in such a devoted manner and Carla couldn't help but feel ridiculously jealous. She tried to imagine being with someone for as long as Ken and Deirdre had been, She tried to imagine being looked after by someone, the way Ken was looking after Deirdre. It should have been Nick that she was imagining all this with, but the face in her mind was not his and it was painfully the face of the man who was stood next to her, casually leaning against the wall.
Carla shook her head quickly as if she was trying to shake the image of Peter right out of it, he spotted this and looked at her sideways
"You alright there?" He asked slightly amused, Carla nodded sheepishly at him.
Strangely enough it seemed as if their impassioned kiss in the lift had managed to defuse some of the sexual tension between them. Peter's chest didn't feel as tight anymore when he spoke to Carla and she definitely seemed a little more relaxed in his presence.
"Your Dad is so cute with Deirdre" She said quietly as Ken picked up Deirdre's water and helped her to drink it, Peter nodded with a slight smile
"Yeah... he'd be so lost without her."
"Well it's a good thing he's not gonna be without her isn't it?" Carla said turning to look at him, He turned his head too, so that they were facing each other.
"You reckon?" Peter asked and Carla nodded
"Well I'm no doctor but she seems as if she is doing okay, Your Dad said she's definitely perked up so... yeah I reckon she'll be fine." Peter cleared his throat and looked over at Tracy, Ken and Deirdre who were all in the middle of their own conversation.
"Carla listen..." He started but she shook her head at him and said
"Not now Peter" she knew what he was going to mention and she really really didn't want to talk about it. Peter couldn't help but laugh, albeit a little nervously
"What d'ya mean not now? How do you know what I'm gonna say?"
"I just do" Carla replied with a soft smile, Their faces were literally centimetres apart and It was the first time since he'd got back, that Peter genuinely felt as if Carla was enjoying his company.
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Deirdre asked with a small smile "Aren't you supposed to be visiting me" Carla laughed and nodded sheepishly.
"Sorry Deirdre" She said
"Carla was just saying what a catch me Dad is" said Peter with a grin. He was so glad to see that Deirdre was feeling a little better and they started to chat as a group.
It had felt slightly weird for the five of them to be sat there like that at first especially after it being so long since they had all been in a room together but soon enough the conversation felt completely natural. Peter was his usual comedian self, cracking jokes left right and centre making his family and Carla laugh out loud, so loud that it wasn't long before a nurse entered the room, this one looked a lot nicer than the one who had been out front and smiled when she saw that there were two extra people in the room, two people that weren't there before.
"And where did you two come from?" she asked. Carla and Peter both grinned at each other and then looked at the nurse with a shrug
"Errr... we just snuck in" Peter said vaguely and Carla nodded in agreement.
"Sure you did." The nurse said going over to Deirdre's bed to check on her.
"That's my Step Son Peter and his wife Carla" Deirdre said weakly she was smiling again, so proud and so happy to have them there. She was rather unaware that calling Carla, Peter's wife had sent a shiver up Carla's spine and by the way Peter had cleared his throat awkwardly, Carla could tell it had effected him too. The nurse nodded at them politely and said,
"Well it's nice to meet you both"
"You too" Carla said smiling slightly, The nurse checked over Deirdre's stats and then smiled again.
"Well I must say you're looking a little better Deirdre, Your temperature has gone down a lot and you don't look so peaky" The nurse rubbed Deirdre on the arm supportively and then looked at Ken "Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you are going to have to leave in a bit, My boss is on the warpath and if she catches you all still in here, I'll be in for it" Tracy looked distraught at the nurse and said
"Can me Dad at least stay?" she asked and the nurse shook her head again but in a way that showed she truly did care about them all, not like the other nurse.
"I wish he could" She said writing some notes down on a clipboard that was hanging off of Deirdre's bed "It's against our hospital policy, but visiting hours are eight till eight so you can come straight back in the morning" The nurse said "Go home and get some sleep, I'll look after Deirdre" Deirdre nodded slowly and then said
"Go on you lot, Let me ave some peace" Carla and Peter laughed as Ken got up and nodded.
"If you insist but I shall be back at eight am sharp" He said and he gave Deirdre a loving hug.
"Goodbye for now" Deirdre said and she held Ken as close as she possibly could, when she let go of him she saw the anguished looks on Carla, Peter and Tracy's face.
"Oh don't look like that all of you" Deirdre said smiling weakly "I'll definitely see you all tomorrow okay." Tracy got up off of her chair and gave her Mum a loving cuddle.
"Bye Mam" she said. Peter hesitated slightly before going in to give Deirdre a hug, He sniffed hard and said
"Bye Deirdre" She took hold of Peter's hand gently and said
"Bye Peter" She then looked at Carla and whispered "You two still make an amazing couple, don't give up on her." Carla heard what Deirdre had "whispered" to Peter but chose to ignore it as it made her feel all funny inside. Peter nodded a little half-heartedly and tried to avoid looking at Carla
"Behave you." He said smiling at Deirdre one more time before going over to the door and leaving Carla alone with Deirdre. She bent down and said
"If I'd ave known I so would ave been ere sooner" giving Deirdre a kiss and a cuddle.
"It's fine, I'm just glad you came tonight" Deirdre said and she took Carla's hand the same way she had taken Peter's and squeezed it
"He still loves you, y'know" She said weakly, Carla just stood still for a moment unsure of what to say "I was watching you earlier and if I'm not mistaken, I think you still feel a lot for him too... I'd love to see you both back together one day... Sooner rather than later given me condition eh" Deirdre added cheekily with a tiny hint of a smirk. Carla laughed anxiously at her
"Deirdre Barlow you should be ashamed of yourself, tryin to use your illness to make me feel guilty eh" she grinned as she hugged Deirdre again but tears were forming behind her eyes.
"Bye Carla" Deirdre said softly and Carla gave her a little wave before leaving her alone with the nurse.
The journey home from Weatherfield General wasn't as unbearable as the one on the way there, after seeing each other in tears and having a few chats in Deirdre's room, Carla and Peter felt a lot more comfortable with each other. Ken had driven up to the hospital so he and Tracy went in his car, leaving Carla and Peter to go on their own again.
Peter wasn't going to take any chances with turning on the radio this time and decided it was probably better to just strike up a conversation, He desperately wanted to talk about this baby Nick was having, he couldn't believe Carla would get herself in such a messy situation, he looked over at her but she seemed miles away.
"What you thinking about?" he eventually asked Carla looked at him
"Honestly?" Peter nodded "You" she said softly and making Peter feel crazy butterflies as he drove "I aven't got a clue about what I'm gonna tell Nick about tonight"
"Why not just tell him that Deirdre's in hospital?" Peter said and then he paused thinking about the incident in the lift "although something tells me you're not just talking about the going to see Deirdre part" Carla nodded and looked back out of the window again, it was still raining heavily out there but she found the noise of the rain rather soothing. "I'm sorry Carla, It really shouldn't have happened, I don't know what I was thinking" Peter started but Carla cut him off, shaking her head as she spoke
"Peter don't, it's just as much my fault as it is yours, I mean I hardly pulled away from you did I?" There was a small silence before Peter spoke again
"So... Are you gonna tell Nick then?" he asked stopping at a red light and looking at Carla intensely
"Yes" She said "I just don't quite know how he's going to react that's all, I mean we've never even argued"
"and how long ave you been together?" Peter asked with an eyebrow raised, Carla knew what he was thinking, he was thinking about how they would constantly bicker and then enjoy making up with each other only moments later.
"Four months" Carla said "We've barley had time to argue I guess" Peter still wondered about this baby situation and wondered how Nick and Carla hadn't of managed to argue about that at least. He didn't say anything about it in the end. He knew it really wasn't any of his business and that if Carla had wanted him to know she would have told him.
The red light turned green and Peter began driving again. Carla looked down at her pink fingernails and began picking anxiously at the polish, she was flicking bits of pink onto the floor absent-mindedly whilst thinking about how to approach Nick. Peter parked the car and as he turned of the ignition he saw what she had been doing.
"Don't do that." She looked up at him expecting him to look cross but he was smirking slightly "Y'know I ought to make you hoover that all up" he joked
"Sorry" she said looking down at the mess she'd left on the floor of his car, at then at the pink dress she had on. She didn't know why but it was as if she suddenly hated it, She really hated wearing pink and she suddenly hated the nail polish too.
"It's alright." Peter said awkwardly
"So… I better be going then" Carla looked over at her and Nick's building. She had no idea what to do.
Carla said goodbye to Peter and made her way into Victoria court. She thought about leaving it until the morning to talk to Nick about it all but she knew that she would never be able to get to sleep if she had left Nick wondering where she was all night.
Then again Carla doubted if she would manage to sleep either way.
Not tonight, not with the confused thoughts that she had whirling around her mind. She knew that she would be worried about Deirdre but there was one particular thought that Carla just couldn't seem to get out of her head, one thought that made her feel nervous, made her feel sick with guilt, whenever she pondered on it for too long.
The thought of Peter's lips on hers.